Page 30 of Devious Love

She walks out of the house with her shoulders pulled back, but on the porch, she turns to me. “I hope your stupid crush on Dominic is over.”

I blink. “I don’t have?—”

“Please. Don’t give me that bullshit. Anyone with eyes knew you were head over heels in love with him.”

I let out a sharp laugh. “It’s entertaining, you know?” I give her a fake smile. “How you think you know me, considering this is the first time we’ve ever spoken to each other. But you’re wrong. Dominic is Matt’s best friend and my stepbrother, nothing more.”

“Good.” She sneers. “Because he’s mine.”

I grasp the door handle and nod once. “My condolences.”

With that, I close the door in her stunned face.

Fuck. The audacity of some people.

CHAPTER 8

the guy is pure eye candy

MIA

Age 18

August

With a mugof hot chocolate in front of me, I stare at the kitchen wall. I only lived here for a matter of weeks before I moved to Phoenix, so this place doesn’t exactly feel like home. Not after I put all my things in my room. Not after I took a bath. Not after I refamiliarized myself with the kitchen and made deep-fried chicken with rice for lunch. The hot chocolate isn’t even helping.

God, I really hope things change once Matt is home. And Mom.

It’s seven p.m. when my phone dings with a new text message. When I see the sender’s name, a huge smile splits my lips.

Chiara:

I can’t believe my prodigal best friend finally remembered me

Me:

We talked a week ago

Chiara:

Exactly! I could’ve been abducted by aliens and you wouldn’t even know!

Me:

I’d be very, very sad if that happened

Chiara:

It would serve you right. Maybe then, you’d keep in touch a little better

Me:

I promise to work on it. Any chance you can come over and stay the night? We haven’t done that in years!

Chiara:

4 years and almost 10 months, to be precise. Pretty sure we were 13 last time